Westchester Herald

Celebrating Yiddishfest 2010 at Kensico

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VALHALLA, NY, July 27, 2010 -- Experience the heart and soul of the best of the Yiddish stage on Sunday, August 1, at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Developer BY Ward Henderson

New Rochelle City Council members squawk about homeowners getting their property re-evaluated. Why, because of Iona's purchasing taxable property; tax abatements for Costco, Home Depot, New Roc City; and the 21-year pilot program for Avalon on the Sound.

Ed Koch Commentary: Vote Out the Enemies of Reform - Ed Koch Names Names in his Crusade to Fix Albany BY Edward I. Koch

 The following article appeared in the Daily News on Sunday, July 25, 2010.

Between 1928 and 1932, the Empire State was led by Gov.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR followed in the footsteps of Alfred E. Smith, also a Democrat.  Nelson Rockefeller, aRepublican, created our great state public universities. These outstanding governors set the standards for leadership and social programs that lifted New York - and by emulation the rest of the country - into the modern era. There were other exemplary governors as well.

 The following article appeared in the Daily News on Sunday, July 25, 2010.

Feiner Requests Meeting with Empire Blue Cross / Blue Shield President for Deniel of Medical Care at Local Hospitals

GREENBURGH, NY, July 26, 2010 -- Greenburgh Town Supervisor  Paul Feiner today divulged that hundreds of Westchester Countyemployees were being denied medical care because of a breakdown in negotiations between Empire Blue Cross / Blue Shield and Stellaris Health Networks. Supervisor Feiner points out that employees and  local government are paying for insurance so they can access Lawrence Hospital Center, Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial, and White Plains Hospital but are denied because of a contractual dispute. Supervisor Feiner is seeking an immediate meeting with Empire Blue Cross / Blue shield  President Mark Wagar, among local officials to discuss the breakdown in negotiations between Empire Blue Cross / Blue Shield and Stellaris Health Network. Greenburgh town employees and retirees (as well as employees and retirees who work or worked for other localities in Westchester) are being denied  health care services from Lawrence Hospital Center, Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial and White Plains Hospital because of the  contract dispute. Employees can’t get the surgeries they paid for at the hospitals of their choice even though the Town of Greenburgh, among other municipalities, are paying for the insurance. Mr Feiner hopes to host a meeting with other mayors / town supervisors / municipal officials and hopes that pressure from elected officials will lead to the conclusion of negotiations and the resumption of service.

Money in New York Politics

And The Winner Is…Sleepy Hollow BY I.M. COB

The first season of “Sleepy Hollow Survivor” is over and it appears that José Quinoy will be named winner.  Tribal members who saw their torches extinguished include Gabe Hayes Jr., Colleen Hayes, Michael Hayes, and the mistress of all deceit, village attorney Janet Gandolfo.  Consolation prizes are awarded to acting Police Chief John Kapica and the members of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department; may they finally be able to heal and move forward with protecting the residents of this village.  A special consolation prize will be awarded to Lt. Frank Hrotkó who has successfully retained his integrity while being publicly humiliated, and professionally stunted  by a power crazed woman who masquerades as not only a village attorney, a private attorney, and the Chair of the Mt. Pleasant Democratic Committee, but in reality is nothing more than a dangerous banshee.  While the details of this case focused on the travails of  José Quinoy and the escapades of the Hayes family, little has been said about the individual who it appears set it all in motion…Janet Gandolfo.

Jackson List: Shirley Sherrod on Screws v. United States, in 1945, Today & Tomorrow BY PROF. JOHN Q. BARRETT

On March 27, 2010, Shirley Sherrod, then the United States Department of Agriculture’s Director of Rural Development in the State of Georgia, gave a now-famous speech before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter of Coffee County, Georgia.

County Executive Astorino’s Latest Budget Projections By Ken Jenkins

 This week's projections released by the County Executive continue to show progress for Westchester taxpayers, as it appears the Board-approved benefit reform package, the Board-recommended voluntary separation plan and the Board-initiated state retirement incentive will achieve $75 million dollars of savings for 2011. There is a way to go, but with sales tax revenues exceeding projections for the fourth month in a row, there are positive signs that there will be additional revenue for Westchester and may allow us to stave off harsh and extreme budget cuts that can negatively affect our residents. 

Update on White Plains Water Main Break

WHITE PLAINS, NY, July 25, 2010 -- White Plains Department of Public Works crews have repaired, and placed back in service,  the 12" water main that was broken on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd at Martine Avenue in downtown White Plains.  The open excavation is currently being filled with sand, to be followed by a concrete slurry. The  concrete-like mixture will take 24 to 48 hours to set up, and in the meantime, the Department of Public Works  will have cleared asphalt pieces and other debris from the area on Saturday, July 24th.  Department of Public Works Highways and Grounds personnel will effect final paving on Monday, July 26th, in an effort to fully open all roadways by that evening's rush hour.

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The Online Community and Memorial for Gold Star Families BY BRIAN WISE

 Families United has launched the first National Gold Star Family Registry. This public, online platform is the first, comprehensive record of fallen heroes and family network ever developed. Whether they gave their life in WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq or Afghanistan or another conflict, the registry is a place to ensure their memory will live on.  (www.GoldStarFamilyRegistry.com) 

Becoming Acquainted with New Optical Voting Machines

 First To Be Used Beginning Primary Day, September 14, 2010 

Greenburgh, NY, July 25, 2010 -- The Office of the Town Clerk invites all residents to come in and become acquainted with the new voting machines.  The demonstration machine will be available to the public, along with guidance and instruction from the Clerk’s Office, at Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY, on the below dates and times:

Shifting Gears: Rolling in GM’s Little Truck BY ROGER WITHERSPOON

The northeast had been blanketed by a slow moving snow storm which dumped from a foot to nearly 30 inches of dry white powder and turned interstate highways into four-lane slip-n-slides.  

The meandering road through Bear Mountain, in the lower Hudson River Highlands just south of West Point, provided a beautiful vista of snow-covered forests dotted with frozen lakes. But the drive itself could be tricky since the black-top was now white and more suited to sledding than driving. And it was getting dark, which meant Bambi and her cousins would be out mindlessly foraging in the frozen wilderness.

Weir Only Human: Political Criticism Should be Colorblind BY BOB WEIR

When the first African-American was elected to the presidency of the United States one would have thought that race would become a less serious issue for the country to deal with. Au contraire; after only about 18 months in office, accusations of racism rival those of a generation ago when the thought of a black president seemed very remote. It was to be expected that blacks would vote in overwhelming numbers (97%) for the first Chief Executive of their race. In addition, it wasn’t hard to imagine that they would be sensitive about criticism toward him. But, one would think, in view of the criticism directed toward every other president, that even the most diehard liberal would realize that it goes with the territory. Given the daily tidal wave of scorn and bitterness toward George W. Bush during his presidency, one wonders how it would have been viewed if he was black. When Bush was frequently referred to as “stupid” or “dumb” by his critics, there wasn’t anyone calling them racists. 

Shapeshifter BY ALISA SINGER

Have you ever noticed that all the good female shapes, for example, the inverted triangle and that feminine ideal, the hour glass, are not to be found anywhere in nature?  The natural, organic ones are the least desirable female forms, like the bottom-heavy pear, the round apple and the shapeless banana. 

Scarsdale is the Suburban Outpost for a Full-body Indoor Cycling Workout

SCARSDALE, NY, July 23, 2010 -- SoulCycle®, New York City’s full-body indoor cycling workout, opened it’s first suburban outpost at 7 Popham Road in Scarsdale, New York on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.  Co-founded by Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, SoulCycle® opened its first location in the heart of New York City’s Upper West Side in 2006 and has since taken New York, the Hamptons, and Westchester by storm. Today SoulCycle has three thriving locations in Manhattan, one in Bridgehampton, and one in Scarsdale. 

The Spoof: eBooks Outsell Print Books, Amazon Kindles Celebrate BY GAIL FARRELLY

Kindles were ecstatic this week when they read in The New York Times that Amazon had announced that, " . . . for the last three months, sales of books for its e-reader, the Kindle, outnumbered sales of hardcover books." 

Newly Rehabilitated Apartments for Rent - Open House - Saturday, July 31, 2010

Qualified Applicants will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria. You may send your request for an application in writing, via mail with a self-addressed double stamped envelope to: Arista  UACProperties,  LP c/o Shinda Management Corporation, 217-02 Jamaica Avenue,  Queens Village, NY 11428, email: uacapplications@gmail.com or you may pick up an application at 1633-35 University Avenue aka 1660 Andrews Avenue, Bronx NY 10453.

Completed applications must be returned by regular mail or dropped off at 1633-35 University Avenue, Bronx NY 10453. Contact the Arista Marketing Department at (347)534-3229 for more information.

New York Civic: Cops Go Forward; Geese Come Back BY HENRY J. STERN

Budget Deadlock - Day 113

Police Will Scan Data Manually to Comply with Stop and Frisk;Geese Returning to Prospect Park

NEW YORK, NY, July 22, 2010 -- Our Tuesday column on stop and frisk legislation produced interesting reactions. The first emailed replies received were negative, some castigating me for going over to the dark side. The next day, Wednesday, predominantly supportive emails were received. Today (Thursday) people are no longer writing us on the subject. This shows that, although the opinion of our readers is divided, the opponents of the bill feel more intensely about it. Further comments are welcome. You may go to this link to post your thoughts.

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky”BY EDWARD I. KOCH

Movie Review:  “Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky” (+)

July 19, 2010

This film received mixed reviews from other critics.  I enjoyed it immensely and think it is well worth seeing.  I would also urge you to rent the 2009 film, “Coco Before Chanel,” starring Audrey Tautou.  That picture is devoted to Coco’s youth and ends with the death of her true love, Boy Capel, an Englishman who died in an auto accident.  Seeing the earlier film will enhance your enjoyment of this movie. 

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “The Girl Who Played With Fire” BY EDWARD I. KOCH

 Movie Review: “The Girl Who Played With Fire”  (+)

July 19, 2010

This is the sequel to Stieg Larsson’s first novel, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.”  If you haven’t read that book or seen the film, I urge you to do so before seeing this picture.  If you don’t, it will be difficult to follow the storyline, especially when the occasional flashbacks are shown. 

Bramson Tells Armory Committee Only Forest City Residential Can Make Presentation BY PEGGY GODFREY

 NEW ROCHELLE, NY, July 22, 2010 -- Promising to put "smiles" on the faces of New Rochelle residents with a plan to revitalize the New Rochelle Naval Armory Building, former New York State Assemblyman Ron Tocci said the structurally sound building was "waiting to be used".  The plan he presented was consistent with the vision and "pride in New Rochelle's  rich military heritage."

U.S. Obtains Order Requiring Spring Valley, New York, Poultry Producer to Implement Safety Measures

 NEW YORK, NY, July 22, 2010 -- Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States (the “Government”) has settled a civil lawsuit against a poultry slaughtering and processing plant, doing business as Ezras Yisrael, New Square Meats, Inc., and Adir Poultry, Inc., for violations of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (the “Act”).

Jenkins and Nonna Propose to Abolish Board of Acquisitions and Contracts in Westchester County

WHITE PLAINS, NY, July 22,2010 -- Today, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers)- left - andChair of the Board’s Committee on Legislation John Nonna (D-Mount Pleasant)- right - announced that they have submitted legislation that will abolish the county’s Board of Acquisition and Contracts (A&C).  Established in 1937 by the Westchester County Charter, as a convenience, the Board of Acquisition and Contracts has the responsibility of approving various county contracts and agreements. Prior to the creation of the A&C Board, all expenditures were approved by the Board of Legislators. Currently, the board meets weekly, usually in the mornings when most members of the public are at work and cannot attend.  The board is made up of the County Executive Robert Astorino, Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins and Commissioner of theDepartment of Public Works John Hsu.  “An efficient, fair and transparent procurement system is vital to the government of Westchester County,” said Chairman Jenkins.  “Many local businesses shy away from doing business with the county largely because they have either heard it’s complicated or it requires a large investment in infrastructure to handle successfully. By streamlining the procurement and reforming this process we can effectively help small businesses get county residents back to work and our economy back on track.” As of now, Westchester is one of only two counties in the New York Statewhich have a similar procurement structure.

Manhattan U.S Attorney Charges Westchester Accountant with $2 Million Ponzi Scheme

 NEW YORK, NY, July 22, 2010 -- Preet Bharara (pictured), the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the arrest this morning of Laurence M. Brown, an accountant in Westchester County, New York, on allegations of securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering arising out of an alleged $2 million Ponzi scheme. Brown is expected to appear in Magistrate Court in Manhattan federal court later today.

Lazio: Where Does It Go?